Historic Statues Stolen from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Valuable sculptures and cultural objects have been removed from Syria's National Museum in the capital, officials say.
The burglary was discovered on the start of the week, when museum workers apparently found that one of the museum's doors had been forced from the interior.
The half-dozen missing pieces were made of marble and originated to the Roman era, an authority told the media outlet.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had opened an investigation to identify the "events surrounding the disappearance of a collection of exhibits", and that measures had been enacted to strengthen safeguarding and observation methods.
The head of internal security in the capital area, Security Chief Atkeh, was cited by the government press as declaring that law enforcement were probing the robbery, which he said had affected several "ancient sculptures and valuable objects".
He noted that museum protectors at the museum and other persons were being questioned.
The Damascus Museum, which was created in 1919, houses the most important historical artifacts in the country.
It includes ancient inscribed tablets originating to the ancient era from historical site, where indications of the earliest linguistic system was uncovered; Greco-Roman period Greco-Roman sculptures from historical site, a significant historical locations of the historical period; and a ancient synagogue that was constructed at another archaeological site.
The museum was had to cease operations in 2012, one year after the beginning of the internal strife. The majority of the artifacts was transferred and preserved at undisclosed sites to protect them.
It reopened partially in recent years and resumed full operations in early this year, one month after insurgents removed President Bashar al-Assad.
All six of nationally recognized sites were harmed or partly ruined during the civil war.
The militant faction demolished several religious structures and other structures at the archaeological site, claiming that they were against their beliefs. International authorities censured the damage as a atrocity.
Countless historical objects were also lost or stolen from archaeological sites and collections.